Definition of sneak verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sneak

verb

verb

BrEBrE//sniːk//

;NAmENAmE//sniːk//

The usual past form is sneaked, but snuck

BrEBrE//snʌk//

;NAmENAmE//snʌk//

is now very common in informal speech in North American English, and some people use it in British Englishtoo. However, many people think that it is not correct and it should not be used in formal writing.Verb Formspresent simple I / you / we / they sneak

1[intransitive]+ adv./prep.to go somewhere secretly, trying to avoid being seensynonymcreepI sneaked up the stairs.Did you sneak into my room while I was asleep?I caught him trying to sneak in without paying.We sneaked out through the back door.

2[transitive]to do something or take somebody/something somewhere secretly, often without permissionsneak somethingWe sneaked a look at her diary.If the gate is open, you can sneak a peek at the gardens.At last we were able to sneak a moment alone together.sneak something to somebodyI managed to sneak a note to him.sneak somebody somethingI managed to sneak him a note.

3[transitive]sneak something(informal)to secretly take something small or unimportantsynonympinchI sneaked a cake when they were out of the room.

4[intransitive]sneak (on somebody) (to somebody)(old-fashioned,British English,disapproving)to tell an adult that another child has done something wrong, especially in order to cause troublesynonymsnitchDid you sneak on me to the teacher?